Living without internet access at home

It’s tempting to think of the internet as a ubiquitous presence in everyone’s lives, but the truth is rather different.

Last month, telecommunications regulator Ofcom reported that five per cent of UK citizens don’t have internet access at home.

That’s a startling 2.8 million people who couldn’t put the kettle on and read this article, let alone check something on a search engine or argue with strangers on social media.

Ofcom also reported that almost 70 per cent of those 2.8 million people either had no interest in acquiring home internet access, or simply felt they didn’t need it.

Surprisingly, this isn’t just a generational issue. The majority of refuseniks were under 75 – meaning they were in their forties (or even younger) as the internet rose to prevalence.

Beyond disinterest or a lack of enthusiasm, other reasons cited for the absence of domestic internet access included cost, with 27 per cent of people saying the expense acts as a deterrent.

Geography and rural isolation may also play a part – a survey published earlier this month reported that eight per cent of UK farms have no internet connectivity at all.

That makes sense when you consider farmhouses are often among the most cut-off dwellings in the country, long distances from the nearest main road or population centre.

It’s instructive to consider the practicalities of living without internet access – both for ourselves and in terms of people we know, who may rely on us for online service provision.

Bridging the digital divide

It’s easy to imagine an internet-free home, since many of us grew up without broadband.

We sent letters instead of emails, relied on mail order catalogues in lieu of Amazon, visited libraries rather than Wikipedia and received DVD movies by post before LoveFilm became Netflix.

Then, as now, computers could be used without a modem connection, while VCRs and DVD recorders were the on-demand content providers of their day.

Today, unconnected households suffer more in terms of services which are designed (or have evolved) to benefit from connectivity, with banking an obvious example.

You can still visit a local bank (if your nearest branch hasn’t closed), but you’ll need a mobile phone to deal with security codes, identity confirmations and suchlike.

Similar issues surround healthcare nowadays, in the age of the NHS app and online appointment booking portals at GP surgeries.

As companies try to reduce paper use, minimise staff costs and automate services, consumers are increasingly redirected online in first instance with a presumption everyone can do so.

Thanks but no thanks

Many of the people Ofcom interviewed had internet access elsewhere and consequently felt they didn’t need it at home.

Between WiFi hotspots, workplace connectivity, 4G/5G cellular coverage and relatives with broadband, some people simply don’t want the cost or hassle of home internet.

Others are reportedly intimidated by the complexity of the internet and the myriad challenges surrounding digital concepts such as passwords, cookies and online payment portals.

If you’ve reached 2025 without a home internet connection, it’s easy to see the temptation to continue, especially in today’s climate of rampant data theft and ransomware attacks.

Indeed, there may be individuals who’d actively like to join the five per cent of UK residents living without internet access at home.

It may be inconvenient, but being offline does eliminate malware, two-factor authentication, social media toxicity, data loss, hacking, connectivity issues, broadband costs…

However, before cancelling your ISP subscription and living without internet access, list all the services you’d have to live without, such as streaming and catch-up TV.

Online grocery orders and next-day parcel deliveries bring a convenience lacking among rural communities or carless households, requiring more visits into town or city centres.

Consider practicalities – how healthcare delivery or personal finances might become harder – and whether you’d struggle to remain in touch with people without social media or video calls.

These are some of the challenges faced daily by nearly three million digitally excluded people throughout the UK – even though many people are happy not to be online at home.